Systems and methods for access control management designed for multi-unit buildings are provided. The disclosed systems can use mobile devices, a local mesh network, access control devices, and wireless communication to facilitate multi-unit real estate management. Mobile devices can download and use credentials to access appropriate areas and units in a building through local wireless communications with access control devices.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for access control management comprising: a plurality of access control devices installed in a building, each comprising a wireless transceiver and a wireless transmitter and configured to construct a mesh network; and an access manager device configured to provide first credentials to a first mobile device of a first user associated with the building; wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first mobile device to join the mesh network, when the mobile device of the first user is within range of at least one access control device; wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first mobile device to provide access to the first user to areas of the building by controlling a first set of the access control devices based on the first credentials; wherein the first credentials are configured to enable the first user to provide second credentials to a second mobile device of a second user; and wherein the second mobile device is configured to provide access to the second user to areas of the building by controlling a second set of the access control devices based on the second credentials.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of the access control devices is a subset of the first set of the access control devices.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the building is a multi-unit building and the first user is at least one of a tenant and an owner of a unit in the multi-unit building.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile device is a smartphone and wherein the first user is enabled to provide the second credentials to the second mobile device through an application running on the first mobile device.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein an application running on the first mobile device is configured to provide notifications to the first user when the second mobile device has provided access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices only during a predetermined time period.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first credentials enable authentication for the first user based on at least one of authentication through proximity, authentication through entry of a personal identification number, and authentication through biometrics.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a software running on at least one access control device is updated through a software update transmitted from the first mobile device, when the mobile device is in proximity to the at least one access control device.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to generate a record with activity information from at least one access control device.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein an application running on the first mobile device displays at least one of tracking information for the first user within the building and the second user within the building and information about an event within the building.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second credentials are provided in response to a request by the first user for a service provided by the second user.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices for the duration of the service.
13. A method for managing access to a building comprising: providing a plurality of access control devices that construct a mesh network, each access control device comprising a wireless transceiver and providing access to a corresponding area of the building; providing, by an access manager device, first credentials to a first mobile device of a first user associated with the building; enabling the first mobile device to join the mesh network, when the mobile device of the first user is within range of at least one access control device; enabling the first mobile device to provide access to the first user to areas of the building by controlling a first set of the access control devices based on the first credentials; enabling the first user to provide second credentials to a second mobile device of a second user; and enabling the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to areas of the building by controlling a second set of the access control devices based on the second credentials.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second set of the access control devices is a subset of the first set of the access control devices.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the building is a multi-unit building and the first user is at least one of a tenant and an owner of a unit in the multi-unit building.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first mobile device is a smartphone and wherein the first user is enabled to provide the second credentials to the second mobile device through an application running on the first mobile device.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing notifications to the first user when the second mobile device has provided access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices only during a predetermined time period.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first credentials enable authentication for the first user based on at least one of authentication through proximity, authentication through entry of a personal identification number, and authentication through biometrics.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein a software running on at least one access control device is updated through a software update transmitted from the first mobile device, when the mobile device is in proximity to the at least one access control device.
21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a record with activity information from at least one access control device.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein an application running on the first mobile device displays at least one of tracking information for the first user within the building and the second user within the building and information about an event within the building.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second credentials are provided in response to a request by the first user for a service provided by the second user.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second credentials enable the second mobile device to provide access to the second user to the areas of the building controlled by the second set of the access control devices for the duration of the service.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 5, 2015
September 6, 2016
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